University of Twente: The Fraunhofer Project Center to help optimize the production chain for thermoplastic composites

Enschede, Netherlands, 07-Nov-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — The Fraunhofer Project Center, based on the University of Twente campus, is going to help optimize the production chain for thermoplastic composites. This will be done in cooperation with companies in the East of The Netherlands.

Thermoplastic composite are light and strong materials for sustainable applications. They can lead to lighter airplanes, for example, thus reducing fuel consumption and CO2emission. The East of the Netherlands, the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, has a strong concentration of business in this field, now joining forces in the new project led by Ten Cate Advanced Composites in Nijverdal. These are partners from every part of the chain. The Fraunhofer Project Center (FPC) is a partner as well: in this center, University of Twente cooperates with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in Aachen, and Saxion University of Applied Sciences.

Together with Ten Cate, for example, FPC will study semi-finished products for specific applications. And together with Reden in Hengelo, FPC will develop new simulation tools for introducing composites in products in an efficient way. The new consortium will be a strong knowledge hub in the field of High Tech Materials. Can we optimize this chain and make it more cost efficient, is the key question of the project.

The project ‘PRODUCE – Cost efficient production technology for sustainable thermoplastic composites’ receives a 2,5 million euro subsidy from the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO). In total, it is a 4 million euro project. The provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland invest in it, as well as Dutch government and the project partners themselves.